Bus lockout sends commuters to trains

Three hundred bus drivers and supporters marched through downtown Auckland today, accompanied by Pacific Island drummers. Photo / NZPA

Voices and drums of the Pacific reached a fever pitch as 300 locked-out bus drivers and supporters held an upbeat and colourful march through downtown Auckland today.

After a noisy song-filled rally outside the waterfront offices and central city depot of NZ Bus in Halsey St, the protesters marched under police escort to the Britomart bus terminal for more music and speeches with big loud-speakers mounted on the back of a small utility truck.

Although managers of the Westin Hotel across the street from the bus depot complained to the police about the noise, the protesters were careful not to block trucks making waterfront deliveries.

The only peace hotel guests and bus company chiefs were granted was a 10-second silence observed by the drivers for the victims of the Samoan tsunami.

As the protesters marched along Fanshawe St in light rain, holding up some traffic but winning hoots of support from drivers of other bus fleets, union leaders were locked in negotiations with the company in the presence of an Employment Relations Authority "facilitator" in a Queen St tower block.

National Distribution Union organiser Garry Hetherington said negotiators for the four bus unions were willing to keep talking to the company through the weekend in an effort to reach a settlement by Monday, when the start of the new school term will put more pressure on Auckland's transport system.

But he suggested to the drivers that unless the lockout was lifted by then, they need not show up outside their depots until 8am for updates from delegates.

Mr Hetherington drew cheers by telling the rally that the Auckland Regional Transport Authority was halting subsidies to the company of $160,000 for failing to provide services during each day of the lockout, and imposing penalties of $225 for each missed bus trip.

However, an ARTA spokeswoman said the authority was not imposing the $225 penalty.

Mr Hetherington said unionists also put pressure on the bus company's owner, Infratil, to order an end to the lockout by rallying outside its head office in Wellington.

The Wellington rally was addressed by Council of Trade Unions secretary Peter Conway and Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union secretary Andrew Little, and a union band also "serenaded" the investment company.

The lock out is in its second day. Meanwhile, Auckland commuters are heading to the trains with NZ Bus taking 700 buses off the road.

Auckland Regional Transport Authority has recorded a near 40 per cent increase in patronage over the last two days.

ARTA spokeswoman Sharon Hunter said extra carriages have had to be put on.

She said the authority is asking passengers to buy their tickets at Britomart or buy 10 ride tickets from ticket sellers off the train to make travel times faster.

She said the trains have been running on time.

Ms Hunter said the skeleton bus services that have been contracted out have also been full and the authority is putting on an extra service along Dominion Rd.

The NZ Bus owned fleet carries 80,000 passengers a day on its services which include Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, Link and City Circuit services.

Auckland City Council owned carparks have also seen an increase.

The council owns the Fanshaw St, Victoria St and the Downtown public car park.

Spokesman Glyn Jones said earlier in the week there were 119 early bird parkers at the Fanshaw St carpark and yesterday there were 143. That is an increase of 21 per cent

Taxi Federation director Tim Reddish said there was little increase in business yesterday but this morning has been "chaotic".

He said, anecdotally, the weather and the bus lock-out has increased the amount of people using taxis.

Mr Reddish said the fine weather yesterday may have meant people walked home from work but the rain this morning has seen more people call for a taxi.

But while trains and taxis have seen an increase, ferry services have not.

Fullers runs commuter services from Devonport, Bayswater, Birkenhead and Half Moon Bay. Fullers operations manager Ian Greenslade said anecdotally, there has been no increase in the number of passengers over the last two days.

Mr Greenslade said the company made preparations to take more passengers on its Devonport and Bayswater services but in the end it wasn't needed.

"There was not a noticeable increase. My personal opinion is that the school holidays are having a dramatic impact and are mitigating any possible uptake in our services," Mr Greenslade said.